Chords are an integral component of any pianist’s repertoire. While major chords are the more widely utilized option, minor ones also make an impressionful statement in various genres and settings.
To create a minor chord, simply move the third down one half-step – this small adjustment makes a big difference in tone!
Basic chords
As you develop an appreciation of chords and their qualities, you will become sensitive to how key and chord changes impact a song or progression – this knowledge aids your interpretation of music as well as honing playing and improvising skills.
To create a minor chord, start with any major triad and lower its middle note by one half-step – for instance a C major chord contains the notes C E G while its minor equivalent consists of C Eb G. This technique can be used to form minor chords in any key.
Minor chords are sometimes written with capital letters and lower case “m.” You can easily locate their tones by counting flats or sharps in any major scale; additionally, basic chords may also include additional tones that can be added by adding numbers after their symbol.
Major and minor scales
Musicologists often refer to major and minor keys as different sets. A minor key utilizes all the same notes found within its counterpart major scale but has an alternate arrangement of half and whole steps; music based on minor scales often sounds more somber or melancholic than that based on major ones.
There are twelve major keys, and each has an accompanying minor key. Their relationship is determined by an equation wherein the second note in a minor scale is reduced by half step or semitone relative to its counterpart on a major scale.
This means that in a C minor scale, the second note moves from E to F, as well as chords derived from it. Most minor triad chords include three notes while extended versions such as Minor sixth (m6) or eleventh (m11) have an extra note added onto them for an extended chord experience.
Inversions
Chord inversions are simply the same chords played upside-down; that is, their notes switch places and bass note drops one octave lower compared to what would normally be expected. This can create dramatic variations in sound.
Most chord inversions utilize the treble clef fingers (1-3-5), but there are exceptions; many of which may also work for bass clef notes.
Utilizing inversions can assist with smoother chord changes; without them, chord changes may feel abrupt and jarring. But whether or not you use inversions is ultimately up to your stylistic/personal decision; if so, incorporating them into your musical vocabulary and practice sessions so they become second nature enables more complex songs and chord progressions; this is particularly crucial when playing rock and blues music.
Variations
Minor chords possess an inimitable tone that can convey both hope and anxiety, just by making subtle modifications on its third note. Recognizing these different tones and how they affect music played is one of the primary goals in learning piano.
Add depth and variety to a minor chord by including tones above its root. These additional tones are usually indicated with numbers after the chord symbol; for instance, Cm would feature G as it represents its first tone above C in a minor scale.
Reduced chords provide another great variation for jazz piano music. They work by replacing the fourth note in a major scale with a flattened 4th, creating tension. Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, Nirvana and Green Day all use this style of chord frequently in their songs.